I have both the Nav Platinum and the Lakemaster. I think it's going to be a matter of personal preference. The Lakemaster chip shows channels and road beds a little better imo, and the Nav chip is easier for reading contour lines. I use the Lakemaster chip at the console, and put the Platinum in the unit on the bow. I have a Premium edition Nav chip also, but it doesn't get used. The Platinum has more charted territory than the Premiun. I heard or saw something about new mapping software coming out for Texas lakes for Lowrance users. I think it is by Catch 5 Alive. I will be curious to see how it compares, but the early info gives me the impression that it will be an impressive addition to the offshore angler's arsenal.

Navionics Hot Maps south Platinum is what I use and really like it. Not sure how it is on onshore but navionics does have a chip for that. Lake master is good too and the person above is right when stated that is personal preference. It's navionics for me but maybe not for others.

[quote=R6crew]Navionics Hot Maps south Platinum is what I use and really like it. Not sure how it is on onshore but navionics does have a chip for that. Lake master is good too and the person above is right when stated that is personal preference. It's navionics for me but maybe not for others. [/quote

I have both the Nav Platinum and the Lakemaster. I think it's going to be a matter of personal preference. The Lakemaster chip shows channels and road beds a little better imo, and the Nav chip is easier for reading contour lines. I use the Lakemaster chip at the console, and put the Platinum in the unit on the bow. I have a Premium edition Nav chip also, but it doesn't get used. The Platinum has more charted territory than the Premiun. I heard or saw something about new mapping software coming out for Texas lakes for Lowrance users. I think it is by Catch 5 Alive. I will be curious to see how it compares, but the early info gives me the impression that it will be an impressive addition to the offshore angler's arsenal.

"The Platinum has more charted territory than the Premiun."False, they are the same.

A Hotmaps Platinum South region and a Hotmaps Premium South region have the exact same maps with the exact same details for the Nautical Charts if updated the same day.

If you don't keep your cards updated, then they can be different, BUT the number of states is the still the same.

I have both the Nav Platinum and the Lakemaster. I think it's going to be a matter of personal preference. The Lakemaster chip shows channels and road beds a little better imo, and the Nav chip is easier for reading contour lines. I use the Lakemaster chip at the console, and put the Platinum in the unit on the bow. I have a Premium edition Nav chip also, but it doesn't get used. The Platinum has more charted territory than the Premiun. I heard or saw something about new mapping software coming out for Texas lakes for Lowrance users. I think it is by Catch 5 Alive. I will be curious to see how it compares, but the early info gives me the impression that it will be an impressive addition to the offshore angler's arsenal.

"The Platinum has more charted territory than the Premiun."False, they are the same.

A Hotmaps Platinum South region and a Hotmaps Premium South region have the exact same maps with the exact same details for the Nautical Charts if updated the same day.

If you don't keep your cards updated, then they can be different, BUT the number of states is the still the same.

The number of states covered and the amount of chart coverage are two different things to me, Wayne. My Premium chip is a year or two older than my Platinum chip, but a huge chunk of Lake Fork does not have contours on the Premium chip. I didn't know that I can update my cards. I'll have to look into that. It would be nice to have full coverage of lakes on the Premium also.